vendredi 26 mai 2017

Jesus’
last extended discourse in John’s Gospel ends with a long prayer,
which includes these words: "I
revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They
belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your
word.”

Over
time, alas! the situation deteriorated. Some scholars claim that when
Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire in the
fourth century, it lost its fervor. Many became Christians because
there was now a material advantage in doing so—like being a
card-carrying member of the Party in Communist countries.

Be
that as it may, Christianity in France in 1846 had certainly lost its
fervor. A Beautiful Lady appeared on a mountain in hopes of restoring
it. She used the words, “my people,” reminiscent of Jesus’
words, “those whom you gave me.” She, too, prayed for them, as
she said, “without ceasing.”

In
those days there was little material advantage in being a Christian.
Observing the Day of Rest, for example, seemed counter-productive in
a world where there was much poverty, complicated by the prospect of
famine. There certainly was none of the rejoicing “to the extent
that you share in the sufferings of Christ,” recommended by St.
Peter.

We
can wring our hands and bemoan the state of religion in today’s
world, but that is not helpful. We can join Mary in praying “without
ceasing” for a discovery of faith, or a return to faith, or a
deepening of faith.

The
list of names in the Acts of the Apostles gives us hope, especially
as Mary was among those gathered in prayer. There is a very long
unwritten list of those who have been and continue to be faithful
disciples. Our Lady came to La Salette to draw others back to
discipleship.

In
a recent homily, Pope Francis said: “Whenever Mary puts Jesus in
the midst of his people, they encounter joy.”

Mary
appeared in tears in that isolated spot in the Alps. But she retains
her title, “Cause of our Joy.” And think of herjoy
when her people welcome her Son back in their midst!

vendredi 19 mai 2017

Our Gospel text begins with, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments;” and ends with, “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

We are accustomed to the comforting message of God’s unconditional love. But here it seems Jesus is placing a condition on his love, namely, the keeping of his commandments. This might trouble us, especially when we are particularly conscious of our sinfulness. Could we ever be completely cut off from God’s love? The answer, of course, is an emphatic No.

But a similar concern arises when people first hear the message of La Salette. After calling the children to her, Our Lady said: “If my people refuse to submit, I shall be forced to let go the arm of my Son. It is so strong and so heavy, I can no longer hold it back.”

What to make of this? It is unthinkable that Mary is trying to prevent an angry Jesus from inflicting punishment on us. He is the Savior; he took our guilt and punishment on himself.

Many attempts have been made to explain away the obvious meaning of Our Lady’s words. Early accounts of the Apparition sometimes have “hand” instead of “arm,’ and “hold up” instead of “hold back,” but that seems to make little difference.

Isaiah 5:25 has this: “Therefore the wrath of the Lord blazes against his people, he stretches out his hand to strike them... For all this, his wrath is not turned back, his hand is still outstretched.”

Like the prophet, the Beautiful Lady uses an image familiar to her “audience.” Unfortunately that was a time and a world when harsh physical discipline and domestic violence were common. Had she appeared in our time and world, no doubt she would have used a different image.

It would be interesting to speculate what that image might be. It would have to be striking enough to get our attention and strong enough to convince today’s “audience” of the urgency of turning back to God.

Once that goal is achieved, there is no fear. “Perfect love casts out fear,” leaving “great joy.”

LOL trying to solve a problem I need to be able to write something without typing it. That is not always very easy but I do have a new toy that I am trying to teach myself how to use.

It is a very wonderful feeling to be able to speak even though they lose this hand and still coming producin siri some of the words believe me come out very strangely but I can correct them by hand without too much trouble. (Really?)

This necessity came about because my right hand has been attacked by serious swelling caused by some kind of arthritis. New paragraph.

Therefore invite you to join me and it and I enjoy this new experience. Believe me, my hands do not touch things in order to create this document. I will have to find a way to show you a picture and I will have to discover how to place the picture on the page also without using my typing.

vendredi 12 mai 2017

When you are planning to go a place where you have never
been, you consult a map or you ask directions, so that you can use the best
road to get from your starting point to your destination. This is the scenario
presupposed by the question of the Apostle Thomas. How could he be expected to
know the way to an unknown destination?

Jesus’ answer says that the starting point and the road and
the destination are all one and the same—himself. “I am the way and the truth
and the life.” The important thing for us, then, is to follow him as the Way,
to trust him as the Truth, to cling to him as the Life.

In dozens of ways the New Testament repeats the same
message, like a great symphony with endless magnificent variations on a theme.

The Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette finds its place in
that symphony. What was Mary’s purpose, after all, if not to turn us back to
Jesus as our Way, Truth and Life. For example, in speaking of the importance of
prayer and Sunday worship, she echoes in her own words what we read today in
St. Peter’s Letter: “Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a
spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

The means of accomplishing this goal is simple. “Come to
him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the
sight of God.“

Jesus was indeed rejected during his time on earth, and at
La Salette the Blessed Virgin wept because he was still being rejected, as was
apparent in the abuse of his name.

The last verse of the Old Testament, foretelling the return
of Elijah, says: “He will turn the heart of fathers to their sons, and the
heart of sons to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with utter
destruction.” (Malachi 3:24). Paraphrasing this text slightly, we may say that
the Beautiful Lady came to turn the heart of her People to her Son, and the
heart of her Son to her People.

La Salette is a helpful and encouraging signpost along the
Way, a mirror held up to the Truth, an invitation to the fullness of Life.

vendredi 5 mai 2017

In world literature, arguably the most famous quotation is
“To be or not to be: that is the question.” Shakespeare’s Hamlet was at a
decisive moment in his life.

There is another important question that turns up at
decisive moments in the New Testament. It is asked by the disciples of John the
Baptist in Luke 3, verses 10, 12, and 14; by Saul on the Road to Damascus in
Acts 22:10; and in today’s first reading: “What shall we do?”

The moment of truth had come. The people listening to Peter
had been made aware of their error in crucifying Jesus; they knew that
something had to change. The answer to the question was vital.

On that day, the answer was “Repent and be baptized.”

Actually, this question ought to arise more often than it
does. Any time we hear the Scriptures we might wonder what it means for us.

For example, in today’s Gospel Jesus says: “I came so that
they might have life and have it more abundantly.” Ask the Good Shepherd, “What
shall I do?” In other words, what difference should this make in my life?

Or, many of those who did repent and were baptized in Acts
2, found themselves persecuted for their faith and may well have asked again,
“What shall we do?” Peter responds, in our second reading, “Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example.”

From 1846 down to our own day, many people hearing the story
of La Salette for the first time have asked, “What shall I do?” It is a turning
point, but where to from here? For some, the answer includes “Repent.” For
others, it may be a call to dedicate themselves in some way to the cause of
Reconciliation, which lies at the heart of Mary’s message.

If you have not read the story of La Salette recently, it might
be a good idea to reconnect with it. As with the Scriptures, we hear the
Message differently as we age and the circumstances of our life change. See
what part of the story or the Message strikes you in a new and deeper way.